THE number of Australian employees choosing to be members of trade unions continues to fall, with private sector unionisation now comprising just 11 per cent of employees, according to data released today by the ABS.
The ABS’ Characteristics of Employment report, published today, shows that as of August 2014 trade union membership had declined significantly over the preceding 12 months – continuing a downward trend since the mid-1980s.
Mining industry trade union membership declined from around 16% twelve months earlier to 12% in the most recent figures. Coal mining union membership, which was previously at around 40%, has since declined to around 28%.
“The Characteristics of Employment survey collects information on the distribution of weekly earnings, working arrangements, independent contractors, labour hire workers and trade union membership,” explains Stephen Collett from the ABS’ labour force division.
“The survey shows a higher proportion of public servants were trade union members in their main job (39 per cent), compared to those in the private sector (11 per cent), and fulltime employees and OMIEs (17 per cent) were more likely than part-time employees and OMIEs (12 per cent) to be trade union members.
“The survey also showed the median weekly earnings of employees and OMIEs in all jobs was $1,000 which was lower than the mean weekly earnings of $1,189 and reflects the impact of a relatively small number with comparatively high earnings. The mean weekly earnings in all jobs has increased $33 (three per cent) from August 2013.
“24 per cent of employees did not have paid leave entitlements in their main job in August 2014. This proportion has been reasonably stable for 10 years.”
Historic low shows need for reform – AREEA
Commenting on the data, AREEA chief executive Steve Knott said the continued decline in the number of Australians who choose to be trade union members must prompt further efforts from our national policy makers to reform our outdated employment laws to better reflect the choices employees are making in their workplaces.
“Not only is union membership in the mining industry at an all-time low, but across the board in both the private and public sectors we are seeing a continued decline in people choosing to be members of a union,” he said.
“This is despite the fact that since 2009, Australia has had a workplace relations system that provides unions with a primacy in workplace bargaining that is more suited to a 1980s industrial environment. Australians are no longer working in an economy where one-in-two people belong to a trade union.
“The longer our workplace relations system ignores this fact, the longer it remains a barrier to employment and economic growth in this country.”
AREEA continues to advocate for a more flexible workplace relations system that contains a range of agreement-making options including individual and collective agreement making options both with and without trade unions involvement.
“Greater options for agreement making would better reflect the diversity of Australian workplaces,” Mr Knott continued.
“This should include statutory individual agreement making, subject to a no-disadvantage test, similar to those that provided value for both employees and employers during the Howard-era.”
Further details can be found in Characteristics of Employment, Australia, August 2014 (cat.no. 6333.0) available for free download from www.abs.gov.au.
Click here to read AREEA’s recent reply to the Productivity Commission’s Review of Australia’s Workplace Relations Framework.
